System and method for use of distributed electronic wallets

Abstract

Methods and systems whereby two electronic wallets communicate and exchange information. In one such system, a consumer's personal electronic wallet communicates with the exclusive or preferred wallet of a web merchant. In one such system, an internet consumer registers with a web merchant's exclusive or preferred electronic wallet (“merchant wallet”) and provides consumer information (e.g., credit card number, mailing address, and other information) to the merchant wallet, which is stored by the merchant wallet in a database on the merchant server. Such information may be automatically populated by the consumer's personal electronic wallet. The consumer maintains current consumer information in a consumer electronic wallet on the consumer's personal computer. When the consumer visits the merchant site again, and orders goods or services, the merchant's preferred wallet can be automatically updated by the consumer's electronic wallet if any of the data in the merchant's wallet has changed. For example, the consumer wallet examines the information in the merchant wallet to determine if the information in the merchant wallet conforms to the current information in the consumer wallet. If the information does not conform, the consumer wallet communicates the current consumer information to the merchant wallet.

1. A method of carrying out transactions on the internet using distributed electronic wallets, comprising:
 receiving via a web server an indication that an internet user wishes to finalize a transaction with a web merchant;  
 presenting via the web server a first electronic wallet associated with the web merchant pre-populated with consumer information of the internet user provided on a preceding occasion;  
 comparing by a second electronic wallet associated with the internet user the consumer information pre-populated in the first electronic wallet with consumer information for the internet user pre-populated in the second electronic wallet; and  
 if the second electronic wallet identifies at least one aspect of the consumer information pre-populated in the first electronic wallet that is different from a corresponding aspect of the consumer information pre-populated in the second electronic wallet, replacing via the web server said aspect of the consumer information in the first electronic wallet with said corresponding aspect of the consumer information from the second electronic wallet associated with the internet user.  
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the first electronic wallet resides on a web server associated with the merchant. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein the second electronic wallet resides on a personal computer associated with the internet user. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2  wherein the second electronic wallet resides on the web server. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  wherein the web server is associated with a third party. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 3  wherein the second electronic wallet comprises an application residing on the personal computer. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 3  wherein the first electronic wallet comprises an electronic wallet of of a third party. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 3  wherein the first electronic wallet comprises an electronic wallet of the merchant. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 3  further comprising identifying the internet user. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein the step of identifying the internet user comprises accessing a cookie present in the personal computer. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9  wherein the step of identifying the internet user comprises receiving a user name and password associated with the internet user. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9  further comprising accessing stored consumer data associated with the internet user previously provided by the internet user. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  further comprising populating the first electronic wallet with the stored consumer data. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 3  wherein the second electronic wallet comprises a personal digital assistant. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 3  wherein the second electronic wallet comprises a telephone. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  wherein the telephone comprises a portable telephone. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  wherein the portable telephone comprises a cellular telephone. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 3  further comprising communicating a request for payment from a financial payment engine. 
     
     
       19. A method of carrying out transactions on the internet using distributed electronic wallets, comprising:
 identifying an internet consumer accessing a web site of a merchant via a web server;  
 accessing via the web server consumer data associated with the internet consumer previously provided by the internet consumer and stored in a database;  
 receiving an indication via the web server that the internet consumer wishes to finalize payment associated with a web site transaction at the web site of the merchant;  
 presenting via the web server a first electronic wallet having the consumer data associated with the internet consumer populated in the first electronic wallet;  
 comparing by a second electronic wallet associated with the internet consumer the consumer data populated in the first electronic wallet with consumer data for the internet consumer pre-populated in the second electronic wallet; and  
 if the second electronic wallet identifies at least one aspect of the consumer data populated in the first electronic wallet that is different from a corresponding aspect of the consumer data pre-populated in the second electronic wallet, replacing via the web server said aspect of the consumer data in the first electronic wallet with said corresponding aspect of the consumer data from the second electronic wallet, wherein the second electronic wallet comprises an electronic wallet on the consumer's computer.  
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19  wherein the first electronic wallet comprises an electronic wallet of a third party accepted by the merchant. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19  wherein the first electronic wallet comprises an electronic wallet of the merchant. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 19  further comprising communicating a request for payment from a financial payment engine. 
     
     
       23. A system for carrying out transactions on the internet using distributed electronic wallets, comprising:
 a web server adapted for receiving an indication that an internet user wishes to finalize a transaction with a web merchant;  
 wherein said web server is further adapted for presenting a first electronic wallet associated with the web merchant pre-populated with consumer information of the internet user provided on a preceding occasion; and  
 a second electronic wallet associated with the internet user pre-programmed for comparing the consumer information pre-Populated in the first electronic wallet with consumer information for the internet user pre-populated in the second electronic wallet, and if the second electronic wallet identifies at least one aspect of the consumer information pre-populated in the first electronic wallet that is different from a corresponding aspect of the consumer information pre-populated in the second electronic wallet, for replacing via the web server said aspect of the consumer information in the first electronic wallet with said corresponding aspect of the consumer information from the second electronic wallet associated with the internet user.  
 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 23  wherein the first electronic wallet resides on a web server associated with the merchant. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 24  wherein the second electronic wallet resides on a personal computer associated with the internet user. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 24  wherein the second electronic wallet resides on the web server. 
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 26  wherein the web server is associated with a third party. 
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 25  wherein the second electronic wallet comprises an application residing on the personal computer. 
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 24  wherein the first electronic wallet comprises an electronic wallet of a third party. 
     
     
       30. The system of  claim 24  wherein the first electronic wallet comprises an electronic wallet of the merchant. 
     
     
       31. The system of  claim 25  further comprising means for identifying the internet user. 
     
     
       32. The system of  claim 25  wherein the means for identifying the internet user comprises means for accessing a cookie present in the personal computer. 
     
     
       33. The system of  claim 25  wherein the means for identifying the internet user comprises means for receiving a user name and password associated with the internet user. 
     
     
       34. The system of  claim 31  further comprising means for accessing stored consumer data associated with the internet user previously provided by the internet user. 
     
     
       35. The system of  claim 34  further comprising means for populating the first electronic wallet with the stored consumer data. 
     
     
       36. The system of  claim 25  wherein the second electronic wallet comprises a personal digital assistant. 
     
     
       37. The system of  claim 25  wherein the second electronic wallet comprises a telephone. 
     
     
       38. The system of  claim 37  wherein the telephone comprises a portable telephone. 
     
     
       39. The system of  claim 38  wherein the portable telephone comprises a cellular telephone. 
     
     
       40. The system of  claim 25  further comprising means for communicating a request for payment from a financial payment engine.